Indicator



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTOR/VEY J. HANDLEY July 9, l194.0.

INDICATOR yFiled Dec. 7, 1938 July 9, 1940. J HANDLEY n 2,207,252

INDICATOR Filed Dec. 7. 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2.

A from/y July 9 1940- l l J. HANDLEY 2,207,252

INDICATOR Filed Dec. 7, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.

/N VEN Ton Fig, 4, l y

A TTORNEY July 9, 1940- J. HANDLEY 2,207,252

. nv VEA/rop ATTORNEY Patented July 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICEApplication December 7, 1938, Serial No. 244,443 In Great BritainDecember 8, 1937 26 Claims.

This invention relates to indicator devices in which one or more of anumber of plates is selected and moved to indicating position.

The object of the invention is to provide a compact and practical devicewhich is capable of providing, for instance, a choice of all the lettersof the alphabet and the numerals 1-0.

According to the main feature of the invention an indicator devicecomprises a stack of. closelyspaced parallel plates, means for selectingat least one of said plates, and means for moving a selected plate orplates out of the stack into indicating position.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following descriptionof one embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an electrically-controlled indicatordevice according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the indicator device;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of. the device partially in section;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of changeover mechanism for the plate-selectingand moving equipment; While Fig. 5 is the electrical control circuit forthe indicator shown'in Figs. 1-4.

Brief description of structure The device comprises a stack of '72plates, and both sides of. each plate carry a quarter of a letter oriigure. Groups of four spaced plates, e. g. Nos. l, 19, 37, 55, eachmake up one complete letter or figure when their top sides are placedtogether, and a second complete letter or figure when the undersides areplaced together. A total of 72-:4 2=36 letters and figures is thusobtained allowing for the 26 letters of the alphabet plus the ten gures.

The stack of plates I, best shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 1 is verticallymovable, and each plate has on each side two pivot pins 5, 6, Fig. 3,which normally engage in horizontal slots 2 in side supports 3, 4 whichare vertically movable as hereinafter explained. The long pivot pins 5on each side pass through the supporting slots and engage in verticalslots in fixed uprights I2 which are supported by side plates I3 fromxed frame member 9 and which hold the plates I from lateral movement.The uprights I2 are cut away in Fig. 3 lcarry lugs I4 which extendthrough openings in side plates I3 into the cut away portions of theuprights I2 and embrace the pivotpins 5 of the four plates in line withsaid cutaway portions of uprights I2` The uprights I5 carry rollers 22engaging horizontal channels 23, Fig. 1, in which the uprights I5 can bemoved laterally by bell-cranks I6, I'l engaging slots 24 in theuprights. The bell-crank pairs I6, Il are connected by links I8.

The front ends of the slottedsupports 3, 4 are more widely spaced thanthe rest of the supports and are positioned behind horizontally slottedangle-members 34, Fig. 3, which are vertically movable under control oflinkages 32, 33 at each side of the device, each lever 33 engaging aslot in the corresponding angle member 34. The actuation of theselinkages is caused by shaft 3| the latter shaft being rocked by arm 3lwhich is moved by link 30.

It will be seen that when a group of plates is moved forward by uprightsl5, their pivot pins leave the slots in support 3 and engage the slots21 in the angle members 34, while the pivot pins 5 remain in the slotsin supports 3. Vertical movement of the member 34 upwardly or downwardlywill turn the selected plates into a vertical position showing their topsides or undersides respectively.

The plate supports 3, 4 are mounted on a channel back plate 'Ivertically slideable in rails 8 xed to frame 9, the vertical movementbeing governed by an internally screwed boss I which is integral withback plate 'I and which extends through slots 9' of frame 9 to engage avertical threaded spindle II. Rotation of the spindle II thus moves theback plate 'I vertically in guides 8 in the frame 9 to raise or lowerthe side supports 3 and 4 so as to bring a desired group of `plates inline with the lugs I4 on the laterallymovable supports I5.

'Ihe power for operating the various parts o the indicator device isfurnished by spindle 46 driven by a motor M, which is only shown in Fig.5, since it may bey common toa number of indicator devices similar tothe one herein described and illustrated. Thereference character 41'inFig. 2, represents the spindle of an `adjacent indicator device andcorresponds to the spindle 46 of the indicator device shown anddescribed. As indicated in Fig. the common motor Mhas multipled startingcircuitsone for each indicator device-so thatfthis motor, and likewiseall the spindles corresponding to spindle 46, will rotate whenevercontacts 55 of any of the common indicator devices are closed, i. e.whenever any of the indicator devices requires rotational power.

For making use of this rotational power of spindle 46 in the particularunit under consideration, a clutch 56 operable by solenoids 54 isprovided as shown in Fig. 2. This clutch when operated drives gear 59,which in turn meshes with a gear 6|) on the slideable clutch member B0'whose position is controlled by solenoid 69 as explained in more detailhereinafter. When slid to the right by solenoid 59, clutch 69 engages acooperating member on shaft 43, thus driving this shaft to cause righthand rotation of threaded spindle through the reversible drivecomprising gears 4|, 42, 43' and reversing clutch 49. Normally, however,solenoid 69 is deenergized and clutch B5 is then positioned as shown soas to clutch with gear 5| which is in engagement with a gear 62 xed tospindle 2|, thus driving this spindle 2|. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,spindle 2| carries a contact making cam 93, a plate-tilting cam 25 foroperating the linkage 39-33 and a crank and connecting rod assembly 29,I9 for operating the interconnected bell-cranks I5, I1, I8.

The cam 25 operates a rocker lever 26, an oiset extension of which ispivoted at 29. The upper end of this rocker lever 23 is formed as aslotted pivot plate 36 for link 39. The position of link 39 in theslotted plate 33 is controlled by a lever 35 which is operated by shaft38 best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. As later described this shaft 38 iscontrolled by an arm 39 fixed to shaft 38 and moved by a verticalslotted link 31 carried by a bracket Hl fixed to the boss IIJ of thevertically-movable stack assembly 3, 4, 1, ID. This linkage is arrangedso that when the stack reaches its lowest and highest positions thelever 35 is thrown over by a snap action, which will be described later,from one position to another to control the movement of the linkages30-33. When the link 39 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, cam 25causes the left-hand end of levers 33 to move downwardly and so exposethe tops of the selected plates. When link 3U is in its left-handposition, the levers 33 move upwardly to expose the undersides of theplates.

For controlling the position to which the stack of plates is moved toselect a letter or digit there is provided a single-motion wiper switch44 cornprising three bank contact levels and wipers 5|, 52, 53. Thelocation of this switch is best seen in Fig. 2 and its electricalconnections are shown in Fig. 5.

The levels 52, 53 are used as hereinafter described for marking thepositions in which the stack is to be stopped. For the present it issuiiicient to state that the eighteen groups of four plates each may beselected during downward movement of the stack via bank 52 and duringupward movement of the stack via bank 5|. The movement of theangle-members 34, Figs. 1 and 3 is so controlled that plates selectedduring downward movement of the stack are turned to show their top sideswhile plates selected during upward movement of the stack are turned toshow their undersides.

Various contact-spring pile-ups 45, 55, 51, 58, 15 and a relay 48, Fig.5 are provided for controlling the indicator circuits shown in Fig. 5.

The details of the mechanism previously referred to which controls therocking of shaft 38 can be most clearly seen in Fig. 4, which shows theshaft 38, lever 35 fixed thereto. and slotted link 31 connected tobracket IU which is carried by boss I9 for producing the rocking actionof shaft 38 in substantially the same relative positions as thesemembers are shown in Fig. 1. Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, itwill be noted that the slotted link 31 engages arm 39 fixed to shaft 38in such manner as to actuate this arm to rock the shaft only at theextreme upper and lower limits of the stroke of the line 31. It willalso be seen that the position of arm 31 is further controlled by a pairof cooperating wedge shaped members afdxed respectively to arm 39 and toa stiif spring 69 so as to maintain arm 39 in the position to which itwas last pushed or pulled by link 31 while at the same time insuringthat the movement of this arm 39 when it does 'take place is completedwith a snap action. The rocking shaft 38 which is thus actuated by arm39 under the joint control of link 31 and the snap action wedges carriesnot only lever 35 previously referred to, but also cam arm for actuatingcontact spring pile-up 45. Additionally rocker shaft 38 also carriesloosely journalled thereupon a reversing mechavnism 1| which as seen inFigs. 2 and 4, has essentially the form of a loose sleeve bearing at oneend means for shifting reversing clutch and bearing at the other end aforked arm 1| by which the rocking of this reversing mechanism 1| iscontrolled.

The arm 39 has a lost-motion connection with a forked arm 1|, Figs. 2and 4, which is journalled on shaft 3S and an intermediate arm 1|" ofmechanism 1| also carries a wedge cooperating with a wedge on a spring13 weaker than spring 59. The forked arm 1| controls the reversingclutch 49, and is not moved until the lever` 39 has moved so far thatspring 69 vtakes control and moves both lever 39 and arm 1| by snapaction to their reverse positions. Thus reversal of the driveof leadscrew does not take place until the vertically-movable stack assembly 3,4, 1, i9 which by means of bracket I9 carries slotted link 31 hascompleted its stroke.

General sequence of operation terminal corresponding to the newcharacter de'- sired. The principal steps in the sequence of operationfor effecting such a change of the character displayed is as follows:

Normally a group of plates will be in indicating position. When themarking on the switch is changed, shaft 2| is given a half revolution towithdraw the plates into the stack, the stack is then moved downwardlyor upwardly by rotation of lead screw l according to the direction inwhich the stack last moved either until `it reaches a marked contact, orreaches the bottom or top of its travel. In the latter'case thedirection of movement will be automatically reversed and the search forthe marked position continued. Whenever such reversal occurs cam arm B5also shifts contacts 45 so that the switch level corresponding to thenew direction of travel of the stack of plates will be searched over.

v Finally when the marked group of plates is selected screw spindle isstoppediand shaft 2|r is given another half-revolution to move theselected group of plates to indicating position.

Detailed description of operation 'at the same time closes contacts 55to start the motor M, Fig. 5, to drive shaft 45.

Gears 59, SG, 5|, |52 drive shaft 2| so that the `crank linkages 2i),IS, i8, |1, I6 withdraw the supports I5 rearwardly, Fig. 1, while thecam 25 rocks lever so that its slotted plate portion 36 pulls or pusheslink 38. This motion of line is transmitted through arm 3|, shaft 3|'and linkages 25, 3D, 3|, 32, 33 to shift uprights 34 for turning theplates into horizontal position.

When the indicator is set, the recess shown at the bottom of the cam 53in Fig. 1 is opposite the contact-operating roller so that contacts 51,58 are both open. When shaft 2| begins to rotate, contact 51 but not 58is closed and a circuit is formed via off-normal bank 53, Fig. 5,y tohold solenoid 54 energised until a complete half-revolution has beenmade even if relay 48 reoperates. This prevents stoppage with theindicator in a partly-set condition.

When the shaft 2| has completed the halfrevolution, contacts 58 are alsoclosed as shown in Fig. l, and solenoid 64 is energized. SolenoidBB-operates clutch 65', disengaging gear-wheels 6|, 62, and engaging theshaft 43 which drives the lead screw The solenoid also operates arm S5to engage a slotted wheel BS on shaft 2|. If shaft 2| has not completedits rotation arm 65 cannot enter the slot and changeover of the clutch69 is prevented. At the same time an arm 61 which is in engagement withone of two diametrically opposite radial slots in a disc 68 on shaft 43is withdrawn to allow shaft 43 to rotate. Contacts15, Figs. l and5, arecontrolled by a roller which normally engages a recess in the face ofdisc 58 so that the contacts are normally open when the shaft 43rotates, contacts 15 are closed to hold the circuit of solenoid 59closed during each revolution of shaft 43.

The lead screw moves the stack downwardly for instance and at the sametime through worm gears 12, 13 rotates the switch 44. Let -us assumethat the new marked position is not reached before the stack reaches thebottom of its stroke. As it approaches the bottom of its stroke, theupper end of the slot in link 31 impinges on roller 16 in the end of arm39 of lever 35 arm 39 therefore rocks the shaft 38 so that lever 35changes over the position of link 30 in the slotted plate while cam arm85 shifts contacts 45 to transfer the marker control from switch level52 to level 5|. ment also causes the wedges on arm 39 and spring 59 toforce spring 59'to the right until the points of the wedges pass oneanother when the arm 39 completes its stroke by snap action aspreviously described. During` the last part of this motion which thustakes place with the snap action, reversing mechanism 1| is carriedValong with arm 39 because the lost "motion beto vthe correspondingcontact grounded, relay 48 is energized when the position The first partof this rocking movetween 39 and 1| has now been taken up. The reversingmechanism thus moves reversing clutch 40 to reverse the drive of screwWhen the operative wiper 5| or 52 finds a grounded contact, relay 48energizes (see Fig. 5) and opens contacts 482 so that on completion ofthe revolution of shaft 43, solenoid 69 is deenergized. Clutch 60' will.thereupon restore to normal position to drive shaft 2| again when theshaft 43'has reached the position in which arm 51 can engage the slotteddisc 68,

Although relay 48 is now operated, solenoid 54 is still energized viaoff normal wiper and bank 53 and contacts 51 of .cam 63, Figs. 1 and 5,which is standing in the position shown in Fig. 1. The motor M thereforecontinues energized over contacts 55. When the shaft 2| starts to movecontacts 58 are opened to prevent any possibility of solenoid |59reoperating but -contacts 51 remain energized until the shaft 2|completes a half revolution and the contact roller enters the recess incam 63 and allows contacts 51 to open.

During this half-revolution the crank 20, link I9 and bell-cranks |6, |1move the supports l5 and the selected plates forward and when the rockerpivots 5 enter the slots 21 the upward or downward movement oftheangle-members 34 dependent on the position of link 35 turns the selectedplates to expose their undersides or top sides respectively to view.

It will be noted that the off-normal' level 53 of the marker switch hasone contact disconnected. This position of the switch `is provided forcontrolling a blank indication.

in level 52 is is reached and immediately', both circuits for solenoid54 are opened, at 48| and by wiper 53 respectively. Solenoids 69 and 54therefore release together` so that shaft 2| does not make itshalf-revolution to move a selected group of plates into indicatingposition and no indication is given. In this case when the marking onthe banks of switch 44 is changed, relay 43 releases,

to position the group of plates required by the Y new marking on theswitch.

What is claimed is:

l. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates, means for selecting any desired one of said plates independentof its position in said stack and means for moving said` selected plateout of the stack into an indicating position at right angles to theplane of the plates in the stack whereby said plates may be moved intoindicating position in any desired order independent of their successionin said stack.

2. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates, electrically controlled, means for selecting any desired one ofsaid plates independent of its position in said stack and means formoving said selected plate out of the stack 'into an indicating positionat right angles `to the plane of the plates in the stack wher/eby saidplates may be Ymoved into indicating position in any desired orderindependent of their succession in said stack.

3. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates, means for selecting any desired one of said platesindependent Iflead 11 f..

of its position in said stack, means for shifting the stack at rightangles to the plane of the plates to bring the selected plate in apredetermined position, and means for moving said selected plate out ofthe stack to an indicating position at right angles to the p-lane of theplates in the stack whereby said plates may be moved into indicatingposition in any desired order independent of their succession in saidstack.

4. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates, electrically-controlled, means for selecting any desired one ofsaid plates independent of its position in said stack, means forshifting the stack at right angles to the plane of the plates to bringthe selected plate in a predetermined position, and means for movingsaid selected plate out of the stack to an indicating position at rightangles to the plane of the plates in the stack whereby said plates maybe moved into indicating position in any desired order independent oftheir succession in said stack.

5. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates, means for selecting any desired one of said plates independentof its position in said stack, means for moving said selected plate outof the stack to an indicating position at right angles to the plane ofthe plates in the stack, and means for selectively turning the selectedplate in one direction or another so that either one of its faces can beexhibited in the indicating position whereby said plates may be movedinto indicating position in any desired order independent of theirsuccession in said stack.

6. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates, electrically-controlled, means for selecting any desired one ofsaid plates independent of its position in said stack, means for movingsaid selected plate out of the stack to an indicating position at. rightangles to the plane of the plates in the stack, and means for turningthe selected plate in one direction or another so that either one oi itsfaces can be exhibited in the indicating position whereby said platesmay be moved into indicating position in any desired order independentof their succession in said stack.

'7. An indicator device as claimed in claim 12 and comprising means forselectively turning each plate of the selected set in one direction oranother so that either one of its faces can be exhibited in theindicating position.

8. An indicator device as: claimed in claim 5, and in which the meansfor selecting a plate comprises an electrical selector device arrangedto be operated in step with movement of the stack to test in turndifferent electrical marking circuits, and test means arranged to beoperated over one of said marking circuits to stop movement of thestack.

9. An indicator device as claimed in claim 5, and comprising a commondrive and clutches for clutching in turn to the common drive the meansfor moving the stack and the means for moving the selected plate out ofthe stack into indicating position.

10. An indicator device as claimed in claim 8 and lcomprising a rstrotatable spindle for moving the stack, a second rotatable spindlecarrying means for moving the plates out of the stack and for turningeach selected plate into indicating position, driving means for theshafts, and clutch means for connecting the drive to the tWo shafts inturn.

11. An indicator device as claimed in claim 8, and comprising drivingmeans for the stack arranged to move the stack in opposite directions inturn between 4extreme positions, and control means arranged to causesaid selected plate to be turned to exhibit one face in response to theoccurrence of the selection during movement of the stack in onedirection and to cause said selected plate to be turned to exhibit theother face in response to the occurrence of the selection duringmovement of the stack in the opposite direction.

12. An indicator device comprising a plurality of sets of platesdisposed in closely spaced parallel arrangement to form a stack, meansfor selecting any desired one of said sets of plates independent of therelative position of said set of plates in said stack, means forshifting said stack at right angles to the plane of the plates to bringthe selected set of plates to a predetermined set of positions, andmeans for moving the plates of the selected set out of the stack into anindicating position at right angles to the plane of the plates in stackwhereby said sets of plates may be moved into indicating position in .Y

any desired order independent of the sequence of said sets oi plates insaid stack.

13. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates each bearing matter to be displayed when a group of one or more yof the platesis brought into an indicating position which is at rightangles to the plane of the plates in the stack, means for selecting anyone of the groups of plates for display regardless of the identity oithe last group displayed, and.

means for moving the selected group only, out of the stack into theindicating position.

14. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates each bearing matter to be displayed when a group of one or more,i

of the plates is brought into an indicating position which is at rightangles to the plane of the plates in the stack, means for selecting anyone of the groups of plates for display regardless of the identity ofthe last group displayed, means for shifting the stack at right anglesto the plane of the plates to bring the selected group into apredetermined position, and means for moving the selected group fromthat predetermined position out of the stack into the indicating posiformoving the selected group only, out of thel stack into the indicatingposition, and means for turning the selected group in one direction i oranother so that either one of its faces can be displayed in theindicating position.

16. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates each bearing matter to be displayed when a group of one or moreof the plates is brought into an indicating position which is at rightangles to the plane of the plates in the stack, means for selecting anyone of the groups of plates for display regardless of the identity ofthe last group displayed, means for shifting the stack at right anglesto the plane of the plates to bring the selected group into apredetermined position, means for moving the selected group from thatpredetermined position out of the stack into the indicating position,and means for turning the selected group in one direction or another sothat either one of its faces can be displayed in the indicatingposition.

17. An indicator device as claimed in claim 5,-`

comprising driving means for the stack arranged to move the stack inopposite directions in turn between extreme positions, control meansarranged to cause a. selected plate or plates to be turned to exhibitone face if selected during movement of the stack in one direction and.to be turned to exhibit the other face if selected during movement ofthe stack in the opposite direction, and means operable by the stack inits extreme positions to change the setting of said control means.

18. An indicator device as claimed in claim 5, comprising driving meansfor the stack arranged to move the 4stack in opposite directionsin turnbetween extreme positions, control means arranged to cause a selectedplate or plates to be turned to exhibit one face if selected duringmovement of the stack in one direction and to be turned to exhibit theother face if selected during movement of the stack in the oppositedirection, and means operable by the stack in its extreme positions tochange the setting of said control means, and also controlling reversingequipment for the driving means for the stack.

` 419. An indicator device as claimed in claim 8, and comprising a rstrotatable spindle for moving the stack, a second rotatable spindlecarrying means for moving the platesout of the stack and for turningeach selected plate into indicating position, driving means for thespindles, clutch means for connecting the drive to the two spindles inturn, and positive locking means which prevent change over of the drivefrom one spindle to another unless the spindles are in a predeterminedposition.

20. An indicator device comprising a stack oi` closely-spaced parallelplates each bearing matter to be displayed when a group of one or moreof the plates is brought into an indicating position, means forselecting any one of the groups of plates for display, means forshifting the stack as a whole in a direction at right angles to theplane of the plates to bring the selected group into a predeterminedposition, and meansfor moving the selected group from that predeterminedposition out of the stack into the indicating position. v

21. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates each bearing matte to be displayed when a group of one or more ofthe plates is brought into an indicating positer to be Adisplayed when agroup of one or more of the plates is brought into an indicatingposition, means for selecting any one of' the groups l of plates fordisplay regardless of its position in the stack, power-driven means forvshifting the stack in a direction at right-angles to the plane of theplates to bring the selected group into a predetermined position, andpower-driven means for moving the selected group fromthat predeterminedposition out of the stack into the indieating position.

23. An indicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates each bearing matter to be displayed when a group of one or moreof the plates is brought into an indicating position i which is at rightangles to the plane of the plates in the stack, means for selecting anyone of the groups of plates for display regardless oi' its position inthe stack, and means for movingthe selected group only, out of the stackinto the indicating position.`

24. An indicator device comprisinga stack of closely-spaced parallelplates each bearing matter to be displayed when a group of one or moreof the plates is brought into an indicating`r position which i-s atright angles to the plane of the plates in the stack, means forselecting any one of the groups of plates for display regardless of itsposition in the stack, means for shifting the stack at right angles tothe plane of the plates to bring the selected group into a predeterminedposition, and means `for moving the selected group from thatpredetermined position out of the stack into the indicating position.

25. An vindicator device comprising a stack of closely-spaced parallelplates each bearing matter to be displayed when a group of one or moreof the plates is brought into `an indicating position which is at rightangles to the plane of the plates in the stack, means for selecting anyn,

one of the groups of plates for display regard-. less of its position inthe stack, means for' inoving the selected group only, out of the stackinto the indicating position, and means for turning the selected groupin one direction or another so that either one of vits faces can bedis.-

played in the indicating position.

26. An indicator device comprising a stack oi closely-spaced parallelplates each bearing matter to be displayed when a group of one or moreits positionv in the stack; meansfor shifting the stack at right anglesto the plane of the plates to bring the selected group into apredetermined position, means for moving the selected group from thatpredetermined position out of the stack into the indicating position,and means for turning the selected group in one direction or another sothat either one of its faces can be displayed in the indicatingposition.

vJCI-IN HANDLETY.

